Electrical control device



May 6, 1941. s. W. MARCHANT ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 27, 1939 T N V s Y E N R O T T A Patented May 6, 1941 UNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONTROL vDEVICE Stanley W. Merchant, Mishawaka, Ind.

Application lhily 27, 1939, SerialNo. 286,939

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical switches andespecially is concerned with a novel magnetically operable electrical switch suited t the remote control of garage doors and the like.

It is among the more important objects of this invention to provide an electrical switching device sensitive to magnetic influences which can be operated conveniently by magnetic fo-rces in the locality of the switch without necessity of direct physical contact between the operating force and elements of the switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical switching device which may be substantially sealed under ground, for instance, may be positioned beneath a roadway and, upon occasion, operated by magnetic forces moving thereover or in the vicinity thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means whereby a switch may be operated by the movement within the vicinity of the switch of a mass of wire, steel or other magnetically permeable material.

A feature of the novel magnetically sensitive switch according to this invention is its simplicity of construction both from the standpoint of structure and from the standpoint of assembly whereby the device is well suited to the requirements of mass production.

Another feature is that the device is essentially rugged and, accordingly, does not easily fall into disrepair during ordinary use.

An advantage of the magnetic operable electrical switching device according to this invention over other types of electrical switching devices now in use is that the device does not employ electro-magnets. Accordingly, there is no current drawn either during the operation of the device or when it is not in use.

Other objects, advantages and features of the novel magnetically operable electrical switching device according to this invention will be apparent hereinafter to those skilled in this art especially after reading the following description in the light of the drawing.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the novel electrical switching device according to this invention comprises a supported standard having horizontally extending essentially parallel arms; a first switch element C-shaped in form mounted intermediate said arms with end portions extending outwardly, the switch element being electrically insulated from the arms of the standard; a magnet rotatable about a vertical axis mounted between the arms of said standard;

a second switch element associated with said magnet for making contact with the rst switch element during oscillation of the magnet whereby a magnetic source in the vicinity of the device causes. movement of the magnet and the making of contact between the first and second switch elements; and means for retaining the magnet normally in an intermediate position such that electrical contact is not established between the said switch elements.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the matter of the present invention, a specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment, though presently preferred, is herein supplied by way of example and not by way of limitation upon the matter of this invention and that the scope of the invention is to be determined by reading the subjoined claims in the light both of the prior art and this specification.

Referring then to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is essentially a side elevational view of the instantly preferred embodiment of this invention, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration and auxiliary equipment being shown in schematic diagram,

Fig. 2 is essentially a top plan view of the electrical switching device illustration in Fig. 1 with the top of the casing removed to expose interior parts, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 2 taken along the line 3-3 thereof.

Referring nowA especially to Figs. 2 and 3 wherein details of structure of the electrical switch device according to this invention best are illustrated, it will be noted that the switch generally designated by the numeral I D comprises a vertically positioned C-shaped standard II having an intermediate upright portion Ila and horizontally extending arms IIb, the last mentioned being provided with openings therein as hereinafter will be described. A C-shaped rst switch element I 2 mounted on the insulative block I3 between the arms IIb` of the standard II is disclosed with thearms I2b thereof horizontally extending essentially as shown. The end portions of the arms I2b are bent inwardly for purposes which hereinafter more clearly will be apparent. It is preferred that the switch element I2 be formed of intrinsically electrically conductive resilient material such as phosphor bronze, spring brass or the like.

The standard insulative block and switch element are retained upon sides of the casing hereinafter to be described by fastening means I4 passing therethrough as shown in the drawing. Electrical terminals I5 are provided on the switch element I2 for facilitating connection of the wires thereto as hereinafter more fully will be described.

A relatively massive collar I6 having radially extending diametrically positioned pointed trunnions IB formed integral therewith is mounted between the arms I Ib of the standard II hereinabove described by positioning the ends of the trunnions I6' in the openings |60, formed in the ends of the arms I Ib whereby free rotation of the collar about a vertical axis is permitted.

A radially extending second switch element lI mounted upon the collar I6 is positioned between the bent end portions I2b of the rst switch element I2 in a manner such that the end portions I'Ia of the second switch element during oscillation of the collar both makes contact withthe first switch element and limits the oscillatory motion of the collar.

A relatively elongate magnetically sensitive member I8 mounted near its center of gravity in the collar I6, hereinabove described, is disposed with its end portions radially extending substantially as shown. ItI is preferred that the member I8 be a permanent magnet, formed of material having high magnetic permeability such as cobalt steel or the like.

In order that normally the first and second switch elements shall not be in electrical contact, a mass of material I9 attractive to a magnet is mounted near the path of travel of the member I8 but not within said path, that is to say, although the member I8 may position itself near the mass I9, it does not make physical contact with same. The hereinabove described device desirably is mounted within a casing 20 formed of magnetically insensitive material such as plastics, stone, fiber, non-magnetic metals, or the like.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that magnetic forces in the vicinity of the electrical switching device generally designated by the numeral I0 will react upon the magnetically sensitive member I8 to cause movement of the collar Afrom its normal intermediate position whereby electrical contact will be established between the first and second switch elements hereinabove described.

In order to more fully understand the matter of this invention and its application to industrial use, there has been illustrated in Fig. 1 a preferred mode of connecting the switch with a door opening and closing device. In this instance, the door opening and closing device generally designated by the letter A is connected with a switch mechanism by lines B whereby the establishment of electrical contact between the first and second switch elements above described will cause opening or closing of the doors associated with the mechanism generally designated by the letter B, it being understood of course that appropriate reversing mechanism is provided so that the doors when opened will close and vice versa.

The letter C generally designates asystem of electro-magnets carried on a vehicle connectable with a power source D by operation of a relay E controlled by the push-button switch F. `The device is operated by moving the vehicle into the thereby moving same from its normal intermediate position to a position such that electrical contact is established between the rst and second switch elements above described.

While the novel electrical switching device according to this invention has been described in connection with a door operating means, it of course will be understood that other applications of the device will be made as, under conditions of use, will appear to be apposite or exigent.

Having thus described the present invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A magnetically operable electrical switch comprising a supported C-shaped standard vertically positioned with horizontally extending essentially parallel arms; a horizontally positioned C-shaped iirst switch element mounted on but electrically insulated from the central upright portion of said standard outwardly extending between the arms thereof, the end portions of said C-shaped switch element being intrinsically resilient and inwardly bent; a relatively massive collar; integrally formed radially extending diametrically positioned pointed trunnions on said collar receivable in openings formed in end portions of the arms of said standard whereby said collar is held between the standard arms freely rotatable about a vertical axis; an intrinsically resilient second switch element mounted on said collar positioned between the bent arm ends of the rst switch element and making electrical contact therewith when the collar is oscillated; a relatively long bar magnet mounted near its center of gravity in said collar and movable therewith whereby magnetic force in the vicinity will attract or repulse said magnet causing movement of the collar and the making of electrical contact between the first and second switch elements; and means for holding the magnet normally in an intermediate position such that the switch elements do not make electrical contact.

2. A magnetically operable electrical switch comprising a supported C-shaped standard vertically positioned with horizontally extending essentially parallel arms; a horizontally positioned C-shaped rst switch element mounted on but electrically insulated from the central upright portion of said standard outwardly extending between the arms thereof, the end portions of said C-shaped switch element being intrinsically resilient and inwardly bent; a relatively massive collar; integrally formed radially extending diametrically positioned pointed trunnions on said collar receivable in openings formed in end portions of the arms of said standard whereby said collar is held between the standard arms freely rotatable about a vertical axis; an intrinsically resilient second switch element mounted on said collar positioned between the bent arm ends of the first switch element and making electrical contact therewith when the collar is oscillated; a relatively long bar magnet mounted near its center of gravity in said collar and movable therewith whereby magnetic force in the vicinity will attract or repulse said magnet causing movement of the collar and the making of electrical contact between the first and second switch elements; and means for holding the magnet normally in an intermediate position such that the switch elements do not make electrical contact, said means comprising a mass of magnet-attractive material positioned near but not within the path of travel of the magnet.

STANLEY W. MARCHANT. 

